Conversations in Creativity: Black Artisans

This Conversations in Creativity event forms part of our extended programme linked to the Black Artisans exhibition at Haworth Art Gallery which celebrates a rare and diverse collection of talents across various artisan disciplines ranging from clay, metal, and wood, to ceramics and glassworks, featuring both traditional and cultural formats.

Our host for the evening, Lucille Junkere, will be facilitating a panel discussion featuring Jo Sealy, Donald Baugh, Jason Stocks-Young and Vanley Burke.

The discussion will explore themes related to the exhibition and the respective experiences of the individual creative practitioners from their own perspectives.

The conversation will also examine the synergies between the work of Vanley Burke and the career of Jo Sealy as photographers, documenters, archivists and collectors of contemporary culture, arts & crafts.

The Black Artisans events form part of Creative Lancashire's curated programme for Black History Month (UK).

Venue: Haworth Art Gallery, Hollins Lane, Accrington, BB5

Date: 6-8pm, 25th September 2024

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About Our Speakers:

The Black Artisans exhibition is curated by its founder and social documentary photographer Jo Sealy, shining a light on exceptional artisans, demonstrating a breadth of skills rarely seen together. Each artist brings a unique perspective and technique, creating a vibrant tapestry of craftsmanship that celebrates the richness of Black British artisan heritage. Jo started her career in advertising before moving into radio and television. She set up To Market in 2005 to use her corporate experience to the benefit of growing small and medium-sized enterprises. Jo is also a photographer with a focus on close-up and social documentary works, dealing with culture, heritage and age. Black Artisans showcases and celebrates UK-based craftspeople through a travelling photography exhibition intended to inspire young people. Jo is a trustee at Heritage Crafts, the national charity for traditional heritage crafts.

Recognising the intrinsic natural beauty of wood, Donald Baugh creates sustainable sculptural vessels, carpentry and lighting. His work is commissioned by private and commercial clients across the world. Donald Baugh has established a solid international reputation with his passion for wood over many years; creating elegant furniture for interiors and one-off creations. Donald frequently exhibits at Collect, the leading international fair for contemporary craft and design and respected galleries worldwide. 

Jason Stocks-Young is founder of Diamond Awl Leather Worksop and JS-Y Leatherworks. As a passionate leatherworker he learnt his craft from a traditional saddle-maker and was immediately drawn to the artistry and precision that went into each piece of leather. Jason works on a variety of bespoke projects and shares his passion for his craft through teaching others. Jason is featured on numerous television projects including Saved & Remade (BBC2) and Made in Great Britain (BBC1), celebrating British manufacturing heritage. He is a member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen, and member of the Equity Advisory Council established to advise the Crafts Council.

Vanley Burke is a known as the godfather of Black British photography. With his profound ability to capture the essence of diverse communities through his lens, Vanley Burke's impact extends far beyond his captivating photographs. Throughout his career, he has been deeply committed to social justice, serving both local and global communities through his art. Vanley is currently exhibiting work at Gloucester Cathedral’s Lady Chapel. Beating Back the Past explores the impact of the transatlantic slave trade from their viewpoint as descendants of Caribbean enslaved people. Together they consider the challenging themes of torture, inherited trauma and the ongoing legacy of chattel slavery. Listen to the Desert Island Discs interview with Lauren Laverne here.

Host and facilitator Lucille Junkere is a visual artist, educator and researcher. Her research focusses on the legacy of colonialism in African Caribbean textile history. Through her work Lucille explore issues of identity and a past connected to chattel slavery.  She uses the materiality of cloth, visual symbolism of patterns and embroidery, botanical and ochre pigments especially indigo to explore the past; loss, grief, healing, resistance and reconnection.

Registration:

This Conversations in Creativity event is free to attend but places are limited so please pre-book via Eventbrite. A small number of places will also be available on the day.

This event is part of the connected talks and presentations hosted during the exhibition run. Find out more here.

These Black Artisans events also form part of Creative Lancashire's curated programme for Black History Month (UK)

Conversations in Creativity is Creative Lancashire’s series of talks and insightful interviews, where creatives from across the disciplines explore how inspiration, often from around the world, informs process.